Since Allie and Bob met when they were both working at a haunted house, it only felt fitting to do their engagement photos in the spooky city of Salem, Massachusetts! Allie and Bob absolutely love Halloween, so there really couldn’t be a more perfect location to document their love story.
I am in love with how their Salem engagement photos turned out, and so excited to share everything about their photoshoot with you!
Allie and Bob’s Historic Salem Engagement Photoshoot
I met up with Allie and Bob for their Salem engagement photos on a beautiful New England fall day in November. We began our shoot at the iconic Salem Witch House on Essex Street—one of the only buildings remaining in Salem with direct ties 1692 Witch Trials (crazy, right?). These days, it makes for the perfect moody backdrop for spooky-season lovers everywhere.
We then wandered down the charming streets of Historic Salem, pausing in front of the most picturesque homes to snap some more pictures with the pumpkins and fall leaves. Peak fall New England vibes!!
Then, we made our way towards the Ropes Mansion, one of my favorite places for engagement photos in Salem because of the beautiful garden tucked away behind the mansion. Lucky for us, the garden still had some flowers in bloom!
Next, it was onto Main Street! We lucked out—it wasn’t too crowded on a Sunday evening in November. Allie and Bob had plenty of room to run around in the street!!
After wandering the streets of downtown Salem, we finally made our way to the little park where Bob had proposed to Allie earlier that year. I watched pure joy and love cross over both of their faces as they relived that beautiful day. This was the perfect place to end their session—together under a tangle of gorgeous fairy lights as the golden sun crept below the horizon.
I had the best time taking these Salem engagement photos for Allie and Bob and preserving their love story in a city that means so much to them. Cheers!
Where to Take Engagement Photos in Salem
Planning to take engagement photos in Salem, but not sure where to start? As a Boston couples photographer, I pride myself on knowing all the best places to take photos in Salem.
If you’re planning a Salem photoshoot, my favorite spots for photos (and yes, you can walk to all of these from downtown Salem!) are:
The Witch House
I have to start our list off with the iconic Witch House, also known as The Jonathan Corwin House. Located at 310 Essex St., this is arguably one of the most recognizable spots in Salem. Filled with history, it’s a must for your Salem photoshoot!
The McIntire Historic District
If you want to wander a quaint New England neighborhood, head on over to the McIntire Historic District. The gorgeous houses and pathways in this neighborhood make for a charming backdrop to your Salem engagement photos.
The Ropes Mansion
Everyone talks about the Witch House, but not enough people talk about the Ropes Mansion! This underrated photo spot was featured in Hocus Pocus, and it’s just a short walk down Essex Street from the Witch House. I love the look of the white mansion and gate in the front—and the hidden garden around back!
Salem Common
In the heart of Salem, you’ll find an expanse of green grass in this open park space, another wonderful option for photos in Salem.
Tips for Salem Engagement Photos During Busy Season (Oct-Nov)
Peak busy season in Salem is, you guessed it, right around Halloween. Thousands of visitors flock to Salem in October—you might even be one of them! It’s true that Salem is busy around this time, but that doesn’t mean you can’t capture wonderful photos during your visit.
My #1 tip if you’re thinking of taking photos in Salem during busy season would be to WAKE UP EARLY! If you want the Witch House to yourself, planning your photoshoot for the early morning is your best bet. Sure, the wakeup call might be a little tough, but it’ll be so worth it when you can take photos wherever you want without being photobombed by 100 tourists.
Another option would be to wait until November (as opposed to October) for your Salem photoshoot. The Halloween decorations don’t come down the second the clock strikes midnight on November 1st! Once October ends, the congestion clears out a little bit, offering a wonderful opportunity to capture the fall vibes with a little bit less of the crowds.
At popular spots like the Witch House, I recommend working with a photographer who can shoot quickly—like me!! Sometimes there can be a line to take photos in front of the Witch House, and I like to walk my clients through the poses we’ll do before we even step into place for photos. Then we can get the shots we need and move on to allow tourists to get their photos, too.
I find it’s best to plan to spend just a little time at the most popular locations and a lot of time wandering the surrounding streets and gardens! There are so many underrated photo spots you might miss if you only take photos right in front of the Witch House.
Lastly, make sure to be respectful of locals, tourists, and the properties around you! Kindness to people and the environment goes a long way.
Book Your Salem Engagement Photoshoot with Kayla Simon Photos
Hoping to take engagement photos in Salem? You just found your dream photographer! My name is Kayla, and I’m an engagement photographer based in Boston who LOVES the city of Salem—and loves documenting love stories. With years of experience planning Salem photoshoots, from Allie and Bob’s engagement photos to Sean’s bachelorette photoshoot, I’m ready to work with you to plan a dreamy Salem photoshoot!!
